A number of participants wrote to Wilde ’82 organizers Alan Miller and James Fraser in the weeks following the conference to articulate their appreciation and excitement. We include some excerpts from these letters below to indicate the importance of this event for participants and the work they produce in the years that follow Wilde ’82.
“Congratulations on the fabulous history conference, and thank you for giving me the opportunity to participate in it. The whole event was amazing, and I think it gave all the assembled gay historians a morale boost to see how much exciting work is being done. I had a great time, learned a lot, and felt lucky to be able to attend. Thanks for conceiving it, and putting it on.”
Gayle Rubin, letter to Alan Miller & James Fraser, 13 July 1982
“Congratulations and many many thanks for having pulled off the historic first gay history conference … I was struck by how much gay history I had learned, how much my thinking had been stimulated and sharpened, and how much more connected to a network of researchers and thinkers I felt. Because of you two, and your conference. Thank you!”
George Chauncey, letter to Alan Miller & James Fraser, 5 July 1982
“Now that I’m settled back in Madison, the full impact of last week’s conference is so apparent—listening to tapes, thinking over the slide shows. I’m so grateful to you two for your exceptional skill in organizing such a fabulous event and making it seem so pleasurably effortless. This has got to be my all time favourite get-together!”
Jim Steakley, letter to Alan Miller & James Fraser, 7 July 1982